CM urged to create conducive atmosphere for outsiders to learn Kannada in the state

NT Correspondent

Mysuru: Former minister and MLC Ada gur u H Vishwanath on Sunday suggested that the state government create a favourable environment for outsiders to learn Kannada language voluntarily besides adapting to local customs and traditions.

He was speaking after felicitating Pro Kannada activists and inaugurating a painting and drawing exhibition of outstanding personalities of Kannada literature at the function organized by Kannada Sahitya Kalakuta in association with Kannada Sahitya Parishat, at Suchitra Arts Gallery in the city.

He said CM Siddaramaiah had asked officials of the Kannada and Culture department to bring an ordinance and implement the '60 per cent Kannada nameplates and 40 per cent other languages nameplates' norm.

Instead of forcing outsiders to learn Kannada, the government must create an environment for outsiders to learn the language voluntarily, he said.

The former minister also appealed to the state government to withdraw the cases filed against pro-Kannada activists and farmer activists as they were working for the protection of language and striving to ensure food security needs of the state.

MLC D Thimmaiah, Raghu Kautilya, City unit Kannada Sahitya Parishat president K S Shivaramu, Kannada Kala Sahitya Kalakuta President M Chandrashekhar and others were present.